Observations on a shoal of the Javanese Cownose Ray Rhinoptera javanica landed at New Ferry Wharf, Mumbai

Abstract

Landing of shoals of Javanese Cownose Ray, Rhinoptera javanica, is not observed normally. Shoals of these fishes are generally neither sighted nor captured. On 9th December 2005, a shoal consisting of 28 specimens was caught by a single trawler based at New Ferry Wharf, which is very rare and probably the first recorded from this region. Similar shoals were reported earlier on two occasions from the Gulf of Mannar. The size range of the fishes in the shoal ranged from 98 to 99 cm in disc width for males and between 100 and 104 cm for females. The catch is very significant since all the females caught were pregnant with fully-grown embryos without yolk and the males were all mature with calcified claspers. The total weight of the shoal was 425 Kg and the catch fetched a price of Rs. 400/piece. The embryo also fetched a good price at Rs. 60/piece. Occurrence and capture of such shoals are interesting as they throw more light on the abundance, size at maturity and breeding season.